Revolver holster



May 14, 1935. J. E. BERNS 2,001,321

REVOLVER HOLSTER Filed Sept. 6, 1932 IN VENT OR ATTORNEY Patented May 14, 1935 UNITED STATES PATE 3 Claims.

. vMy invention relates to a revolver holster. More particularly, my invention relates to a holster for the reception of a revolver, whereby the revolver may be withdrawn bythe user and placed in a shooting position with maximum speed. Another object of my invention is to pro vide a revolver holster which will secure and retain the revolver in the holster without the holster coming in contact with the sights of the revolver.

In connection with the protection of the sights of a revolver, it should be kept in mind that when revolvers are used for target practice, the sights are smoked or otherwise temporarily blackened, so that the sights will clearly contrast with a white background. It has been heretofore the custom of target shooters to blacken the sights of their revolver, and to carry such sight'blackened revolver in their. hand without replacing the same in the holster, so that the blackening on the sights'would-not be worn off bycontact with the holster before the revolver was used for shooting. In my invention the revolver may be-placed in the holster with the sights blackened to suit the individual shooter, and the sights will be protected against wearing and rubbing While the revolver is in the holster.

Ordinarily, experts with revolvers. will color the sightson their. revolver in such awaythat the sights will contrast'with the color of the background against which they are shooting, thus making the sights more clearly definable. This is not confined to target shooters who darken their sights when shooting against a white background, and when other color backgrounds obtain, very often the marksmen will see fit to place ivory tips, gold tips, or other coloring on the sights, so that a contrast is had between the sights and the background, permitting the highest degree of accuracy in shooting. In the interest of continued accurate shooting, it is necessary to protect the sights from wear, so that the sights are not diminished in size or changed in color, and further, so that the sights do not become shiny and brilliant.

A further object of my invention is to provide a holster for a revolver, so designed as to prevent vertical movement of the revolver without the 1 use of the ordinary straps. Heretofore holsters have been provided where the revolver is inserted from the upper end of the holster and moved downwardly therein. When the revolver was worn, in such a holster, by men who were riding horseback, or in similar position where an up and down movement of their body was had,

the tendency of the revolver was to likewise move in a vertical direction, andv at times the revolver would fall out of the holster. To prevent this, many of the policemen of today wear straps over the upper side of their revolver, so that the same cannot accidentally leave the holster. This, of course, prevents rapid access to the revolver. At times when such rapid access to the revolver might be extremely urgent, the revolver is not accessible. in my device the revolver is held against vertical movement, and may be speedily and rapidly withdrawn by a forward horizontal movement of the butt end of the revolver, and thereafter the revolver can be readily moved into shooting position by a simple twist of the wrist.

The above mentioned general objects of my invention, together with others inherent in the same, are attained by the device, illustrated in the following drawing, the same being preferred exemplary forms of embodimentof my invention, throughout which drawing like reference numerals indicate like parts:

Figure Us a view in perspective of my holster with a revolver; inserted, therein,- showing the same adapted to thebelt of a wearer, only the central portion of the wearer being indicated.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, with the revolver tipped slightly forward and being removed from the holster.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the holster embodying my invention. I

Fig. 4 is a section substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a View substantially on line. 55 of Fig. 3. I

Fig. 6 is a modified form of the endretaining member shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a view in perspective, with parts broken away, showing the means to connect the holster, embodying my invention, to a strap or belt of the wearer.

Referring to the drawing, in indicates a firearm of the type generally known as a revolver. My holster l l is preferably provided with an overlapping strap IZ, positioned upon the upper rear side thereof, providing an opening l4 between the overlapping strap and the holster H for the insertion therein of a belt I3 to be worn by the wearer. The belt E3 of the wearer is preferably of suitable size, so that after the same is inserted through the opening It between the-overlapping strap 12 and the holster H, swinging movement of the holster andsliding movement of the same as respects the belt I3 is prevented. This is readily accomplished by providing a belt l3, which GIL will snugly fit in the opening I l. The holster I l is provided with an open portion l5 upon the normal forward portion of the holster and upon part of the normal upper portion of the holster, and a curved portion I6 is provided, with a contour similar to the contour of the trigger guard ll of the revolver. A spring clamp l8 of substantially U shape is positioned within the holster, so that the curved portion 19 of the spring clamp will embrace the cylinder 20 of the revolver. This spring clamp l8 may be secured to the holster by means of retaining members 29 which are sewed orotherwise secured to the sides of the holster over the spring clamp I8, thereby forming pockets for the retention of such spring clamp. These retaining members may be of leather or of like soft material and cover the spring H3 at the location of contact with the cylinder 20 of the revolver, thereby protecting the revolver from contact with the metalspring clamp IS. The lower portion 2! of the holster has a stop member 22 provided within theholster at the forward edge of the portion 2! and cooperatesto form a recess 21 for the reception of the muzzle end of the revolver barrel 26. The form shown in Fig. 5 is adapted to receive the muzzle end of a revolver of the typeshown where the front sight 23 is somewhat back from the muzzle end of the revolver. In the event that thefront sight 23 of the revolver is substantially flush with the end of the barrel 26, the end retaining member shown in Fig. 6 should be preferably used. The end retaining member shown in Fig. 6 is made in a similar manner, and is provided with a recess 24 similar to the recess 2'! of the end retaining member shown in Fig. 5. I In addition tothe recess 24, there is provided in the stop member 23, shown in Fig. 6, an aperture or slot 25 which cooperates with recess 24 to provide an end receiving member for the muzzle end of such a revolver. g In the use of the holster embodying my invention, the revolver I0 is inserted into the holster by first thrusting the muzzle end of "the barrel.

portion of the revolver, indicated generally by numeral 26, through the open front or the open top portion of the holster and placing the end of the barrel in therecess 21 in the bottom of the holster. The revolver is indicated in this position in Fig. 2 of the drawing. 'The upper portion of the revolver is then moved backward so that the trigger guard I! will be positioned under and against the curved portion I6 of the holster.

In moving this upper portion of the revolver in a rearward direction, the two parts of the spring member I8 will be separated and permit the revolver to be positioned in the holster. After the revolver is so positioned in the holster, the revolver will be retained in the holster against vertical movement by the curved portion l6 of the holster which engages the trigger guard and thereby holds the muzzle end of the revolver barrel firmly in place in the recess 21. The spring I8 surrounds the cylinder 20 of the revolver and releasably holds the upper portion of the revolver against horizontal movement. To remove the revolver from the holster, it is only necessary that'the wearer move the butt portion of the revolver forward in a horizontal direction, and then twist his wrist to placethe revolver in firing position. The forward movement of the butt portion of the revolver is resisted by the action of spring member I8. This spring member may be provided with a vide an excessive pressure, which the wearer must.

the holster. *holster, itis necessary that a slight forward been used, the movements to bring the revolver into action are substantially that the wearer must first lift the revolver a considerable distance, and then turn the revolver to a substantially horizontal position. In my invention it is only necessary for the wearer to move the butt portion of the revolver slightly forward, and then, in practically the same motion, to turn the revolver to a horizontal position for firing.

It should be realized that the average length of revolvers in common use approximately seven to twelve inches, and therefore, the wearer must liftthe revolver approximately this distance, inusing the.holsterslheretofore in commOn'usaJ-before he can turn his wrist and place the revolverinto a firing-position. The difference in the speed-with which arevolver may be withdrawn from my holster and other holsters is determinedby this upward movement which is necessaryinthe use of an-ordinary holster, but

is entirelyeliminated when my holster is used.

' Besides providing a holster whereby a quicker draw of the revolver may be had, it should be '35 notedthat inmy holster, the curved portion [6 prevents therevolver from being raised vertically in the holster, as such curved portion partially surrounds the triggerguard II. This feature adds additional protection. to thewearer of -40 To remover-the revolver from the movement of the butt portion of the revolver be had, and then that the revolver be twisted horizontal'position. In the eventthat. someone should attack and attempt to disarm a wearer from-the. rear, .the revolvercannot be drawn backwardly, or upwardly, but 'thebutt portion must first be tipped forward. Such move from= the back to disarm a wearer will take considerable more time than would be'necessary to withdraw a revolver: from an ordinary holster, and

thereby adds additionalprotection to the wearer, so that he may not be easily disarmed by artifice from the rear. Furthermore, in the event that a wearer of an ordinary holster is disarmed from the rear, the revolver is pointed at the wearer just after such disarming, while in my holster the revolver will be pointed forwardly and not at thewearer; a q

1 In the event that extremely long revolvers are used, the same 'may be withdrawn from my holstenand the great loss of time, which is inupward, so that thei'barrel 26 is moved to 2.45

cident to the withdrawing of such revolvers from ordinary holsters, is eliminated. To prevent such loss of time in the withdrawing of long barreled revolvers from holsters, it has beenthe practice of men experienced in the-use of firearms to saw oif the barrel of such revolversand thereby minimize the up lift to withdraw the revolver from the holster. Itis clear from the operation of my-holster that the speed with which the revolvermay be withdrawn from the holster is notdetermined by the, length of the barrel, and

therefore that such sawing off process is not necessary to obtain a speedy draw, and clearly the necessity for using sawed off or short barreled revolvers, which are inherently less accurate than revolvers having longer barrels, is so overcome.

Obviously, changes may be made in the forms,

dimensions, and arrangement of the parts of my invention, without departing from the principle thereof, the above setting forth only preferred forms of embodiment.

I claim:

1. A holster of the class described embodying a case member provided with an open slot in the front and upper portions thereof, through which a revolver may be inserted into the holster and withdrawn therefrom, the edges of the holster around said front slot extending forwardly to provide a guard for the sights of the revolver; a curved pocket in the upper rear portion of the holster to receive the upper rear curved part of the trigger guard member of a revolver; a revolver barrel end supporting member in the lower end portion of the holster; and a spring member positioned in the holster adapted to frictionally engage a revolver and to releasably hold said rear curved part of the trigger guard member of the revolver in said curved pocket of the holster, thereby frictionally retaining the revolver in said holster.

2. A holster of the class described embodying a case member provided with an open slot in the front and upper portions thereof, through which a revolver may be inserted into the holster and withdrawn therefrom, the free edges of the holster around said front slot extending forwardly to provide a guard for the sights of the, revolver; a curved pocket in the upper rear portion of the holster to receive the upper rear curved part of the trigger guard member of a revolver; a revolver barrel end supporting and retaining member in the lower end portion of the holster, said member having an aperture to receive the end of the barrel and a slot cooperating with said aperture to,receive a sight on the revolver positioned flush with its end; and a spring member positioned in the holster adapted to frictionally engage a revolver and to releasably hold said rear curved part of the trigger guard member of the revolver in said curved pocket of the holster, thereby frictionally retaining the revolver in said holster.

3. A holster of the class described embodying a case member provided with an open top and with an open slot in the front, said opening in the front extending from the top to the bottom portion of the case member through which a revolver may be inserted into the holster and withdrawn therefrom,,the edges of the holster around said front slot extending forwardly to provide a guard for the sights of the revolver; a revolver barrel end supporting member in the lower end portion of the holster; and a spring member positioned in the case member adapted to frictionally engage the lateral portions only of a revolver, leaving a clear space for the sights 

